Sources noted that Somaini’s leaving is also part of a wider look at a range of higher-level execs at Yahoo — top staff status is based on Levels, such as L3, L4, L5 — that is now taking place across the company by CEO Marissa Mayer.

Sources noted that Mayer is moving to replace a number of them as she seeks to remake the top ranks of the company, even as some are contemplating departure in the March time frame when their various and sundry stock options and other payouts are realized.

Certainly, Yahoo needs better people on staff.

But this executive purge could also be part of Mayer's plan to cut Yahoo's costs.

Yahoo has 18,000 full time employees and contractors, and we've been hearing from insiders for a while now that it should probably have 10,000 fewer.

Mayer knows this, and she plans to fix Yahoo's cost structure by cutting lots of people.